Min Hee-jin, 'Representative Reappointment' Injunction Dismissed... "Initially 10% Chance, Will Go to the End with HYBE"

Adore CEO's Return Fails... Uncomfortable Cohabitation with HYBE Ongoing

Former ADORE CEO Min Hee-jin's attempt to return has failed.

The Seoul Central District Court Civil Division 50 (Chief Judge Kim Sang-hoon) dismissed Min's provisional injunction request against HYBE on the 29th, in which she demanded to be reinstated as ADORE's CEO.

Min Hee-jin, former CEO of ADOR.
[Photo by YouTube channel ‘Kim Young-dae's School of Music’ video capture]

HYBE stated, "We appreciate the wise judgment," and added, "We will do our best to normalize ADORE, advance the multi-label system, and support our artists' activities based on this decision."

Min said, "I will try to do as much as I can until the end," expressing her intention to continue the legal battle. Appearing on the YouTube channel ‘Kim Young-dae's School of Music’ that day, she said, "(The dismissal of the provisional injunction) was an expected outcome," and added, "Since there was no precedent, I estimated the chance of winning (provisional injunction approval) to be about 10 to 20%."

Regarding why she took on a seemingly futile challenge, she explained, "From my perspective, I thought I was giving HYBE one more chance. I hoped that if I could break through their pride, which prevents them from accepting me, even in this way, they might accept me."

She emphasized, "Through the provisional injunction request, I was able to reveal my innocence and sincerity." She said, "I never tried to leave the company as they (HYBE) claim. I have been suffering from a strange frame and false accusations, so I needed to prove my innocence," and added, "I will try to do as much as I can until the end."

Min is currently involved in more than ten lawsuits filed by HYBE and its subsidiary labels. In a lecture at Hyundai Card last month, she revealed that she had spent 2.3 billion won on legal battles. She also mentioned, "I might have to sell my house."

She plans to continue the legal battles. On the 29th, through her legal representative, she stated, "The court did not rule on the validity of the shareholders' agreement. The shareholders' agreement signed with HYBE remains valid," and added, "If HYBE and the ADORE directors appointed by HYBE violate the shareholders' agreement by not reappointing me as CEO, I will actively consider exercising my rights arising from HYBE's breach of the shareholders' agreement."

Min, whose three-year term as an inside director of ADORE ends on the 1st of next month, was reappointed as an inside director at the shareholders' meeting on the 17th. ADORE plans to hold a board meeting on the 30th to discuss the agenda of appointing Min as CEO.